Libertarian vice presidential nominee says odds in his party’s favor
Wayne Allyn Root, a Las Vegas oddsmaker by profession and now the Libertarian Party’s vice presidential nominee, breezed into the St. Louis area today as part of a two-day swing through the state to raise money and his ticket’s profile.
Root is the running mate of Libertarian presidential nominee Bob Barr, who like Root is a former Republican. And as Root observes, both have “big mouths” and love to talk to the press about their politics and their campaign.
But it’s doubtful that Barr can beat out Root’s one-liners, aimed at promoting his party’s philosophy of less government — on the fiscal and personal side.
Asked Root as he drank bottled water at a Clayton restaurant: “What’s the difference between Las Vegas and Washington D.C.?
“In Vegas, the drunks gamble with their own money!” Root chortled, his laughter filling the restaurant.
Democrats promise personal freedom, but offer no economic freedom, Root said, while Republicans favor economic freedom but “you get no personal freedom.”
“To me, it’s two horrible choices…Big and bigger government, dumb and dumber!”
Root said that Nevada offers the best example of what works best. There’s few taxes, and lots of personal freedom. Legalized gambling and prostitution helps provide the income needed to pay for the services that all Nevadans — religious or secular — enjoy, he said.
But as a small businessman, Root says he’s feeling the nation’s economic downtown — just like many others in Las Vegas and around the country, he said.
Root said he also has something in common with social conservatives, because he and his wife home-school their four children.
Root says that he and Barr have the goal of reaching Ross Perot’s high mark for an independent candidate, snagging 19 million votes in 1992.
With polls now showing Barr with the support of six percent of this fall’s likely voters, he and Root are hoping they can reach 15 percent — enough to get them into the presidential debates this fall.
If they succeed, Root says that means he could find himself back in St. Louis for the vice presidential debate at Washington University on Oct. 2.
Now there’s something for you … an oddsmaker plus an oddball. What a ticket!
I’ll take an oddball
over an “even though”
anyday
So. . .someone who speaks a truth, but is not one of the “approved” parties is instantly denigrated as an oddball.
Honestly, if this guy is an odds-maker in Vegas, and he gives himself and his party any kind of edge, I’m not so sure I’d be placing money on the horse of his choice.
Don’t quit your day job, Root!
Yeah, well, good luck Mr.Root. Why not let the democrats even things out a while before letting the libbers. have a shot at things?
More and more People see little difference
in the Too Party System.
I assure you, the fifteen per cent will happen
and the resulting debates will shape the outcome. Try not to look a gift horse in the mouth.
I would love to see Root in the debates. He would make them worth watching. Barr is doing very well. The TV media is trying to shut him out. The polls will show otherwise.
http://www.bobbarr2008.com/
Meanwhile, in Missouri the gambling industry is trying to cap the number of licenses. That means less money for the state, and less competition for the current license holders. Will we be the “Show Me Stupidity State”? I’m guessing we will …
an interesting aside, about gambling. The moat aspect, the gambling ‘on water’ still exists, even with the new casino downtown. I asked a construction worker about it…sure that by now, the casino was on dry land. Nope… and the reason? because in Vegas, every gas station has slots. But they do not have a moat. Lessons learned and acted upon by the gambling industry. It was never for the reasons stated in the Eighties. It was always a tether held by the gaming industry. The myth of history and steamboats ended long before the fuel costs rose.
Root switched to the Libertarians when congress outlawed internet gambling. Add that to being a home schooler, and he’s got my respect.